Franklin & Marshall vs Scranton: Softball Program Comparison

Two D3 programs. Scranton runs $14,721 less per year; Franklin & Marshall graduates 5 points more of its students.

Which one is right for you?

Neither school is better in the abstract — they are better for different athletes. These are the differences big enough to actually decide on.

Lean Franklin & Marshall if…

  • Finishing the degree is the priority: Franklin & Marshall graduates 5 percentage points more of its students than Scranton.

Lean Scranton if…

  • The number on the bill matters: Scranton lists $14,721 less per year in tuition and housing than Franklin & Marshall, and neither charges by residency.

What it costs to go there

Published sticker price from IPEDS. Almost nobody pays it — athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off the top — but the gap between two schools is a fair read on the gap between two offers.

What it costs to go there: Franklin & Marshall compared with Scranton
MeasureFranklin & MarshallScranton
Tuition & feesBoth schools charge one rate regardless of residency.$68,380$52,309 Scranton leads on this measure: lower published tuition
Room & board$15,568 Franklin & Marshall leads on this measure: lower room & board$16,918
Est. year, all inTuition & fees plus room & board. Excludes books, travel and any aid.$83,948$69,227 Scranton leads on this measure: lower total cost per year

What you leave with

Federal College Scorecard figures for all students at the institution, not softball players specifically. Read them as a signal about the degree, not about the program.

What you leave with: Franklin & Marshall compared with Scranton
MeasureFranklin & MarshallScranton
Graduation rate86% Franklin & Marshall leads on this measure: higher share of students finishing their degree81%

Getting in, and what you'd walk into

Admissions and size. A coach can support your file, but at most schools they cannot admit you — the academic profile below is the bar you still have to clear.

Getting in, and what you'd walk into: Franklin & Marshall compared with Scranton
MeasureFranklin & MarshallScranton
Total enrollmentNeither is better — it is the difference between a lecture hall and a seminar table.1,9114,825
Where it isLancaster, PAScranton, PA

The softball program itself

Division and conference set the ceiling; the postseason record and staff tell you what the program has actually done with it.

The softball program itself: Franklin & Marshall compared with Scranton
MeasureFranklin & MarshallScranton
ConferenceCentennialLandmark
Head coachDina HenryCaitlyn Seamster

How you actually get in front of them

Camps and questionnaires are the two channels a recruit controls. Where a program runs its own camp, that camp is usually the shortest path to being evaluated by the staff that would recruit you.

How you actually get in front of them: Franklin & Marshall compared with Scranton
MeasureFranklin & MarshallScranton
Recruiting questionnaireYesYes

Scholarship money, honestly

Both programs sit at NCAA Division III, so the scholarship rules are identical: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.

How D3 softball scholarships actually work →

What to do about it this week

Questionnaires are exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit one at any age. Do both, then follow with a short email to each staff.

Franklin & Marshall

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Scranton

Open the recruiting questionnaire

Camps we track

None listed right now. Camp schedules go up through the winter — check the program's own site before ruling it out.

Franklin & Marshall vs Scranton: common questions

Is Franklin & Marshall or Scranton cheaper?
On published price, Scranton is cheaper — about $69,227 a year in tuition and housing, against $83,948 at Franklin & Marshall. That is sticker price; athletic, academic and need-based aid all come off it, so ask both coaches what an actual offer would look like.
Which school graduates more of its students, Franklin & Marshall or Scranton?
Franklin & Marshall, at 86% against 81% at Scranton (IPEDS, 2023-24). That is the whole student body, not the softball roster.
Do Franklin & Marshall and Scranton offer softball scholarships?
Both play at NCAA Division III: 0 (no athletic scholarships). There are no athletic scholarships at D3 — by rule. But D3 schools often award generous academic merit and need-based aid that can rival an athletic scholarship elsewhere.
How do I contact the coaches at Franklin & Marshall and Scranton?
Both programs run a recruiting questionnaire, and that is the right first move — it is exempt from NCAA contact-date rules, so you can submit it at any age. Fill out both, then follow with an email to each staff.

Cost, graduation and enrollment figures from IPEDS (U.S. Dept. of Education, 2023-24). Earnings, debt and admission rates from the federal College Scorecard. Postseason results from the NCAA Division I softball tournament records, 2021-2026. Rankings from NCAA.com and U.S. News & World Report. Figures describe the institution, not the softball roster.

We work hard to keep all data for Franklin & Marshall and Scranton accurate and up-to-date, but we sometimes miss changes or get something wrong.

Still deciding between them?

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